Mechanism for interleaving carbon strips in connected manifold forms



Feb. 21, 1933. w. J. STEENROD 1,893,795 MECHANISM FOR INTERLEAVING CARBON STRIPS IN CONNECTED MANIFOLDFORM-'5 Filed Dec. 5, 1930 Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. STEENRGD, OF KALANAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TOBONNAR-VAWTER FANFORM COMPANY, INC., 0F BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, CORPORATION OF DELAWARE MECHANISM FOR INTERLEAVING cannon s'rRIPs IN connnornn MANIFOLD FORMS My invention relates to an apparatus for interleaving continuous strips of singlefaced carbon paper between the folds o f 'a longitudinally fanfolded continuous strip of printed forms. and more particularly reing lines, it has been found that feeding rolls having a continuous cylindrical face do not operate satisfactorily. The object of my invention is to provide a pulling feeding mechanism which shall draw the forms and carbon paper from the source of supply of each over and past the interleaving apparatus with a steady movement and a cushioned engagement which shall act efficiently yet without tearing the paper or producing any carbon marks or smears upon the assembled forms. To this end I have devised the pulling and feeding mechanism hereinafter described in detail, my invention residing in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts and members making up such mechanism, the essential elements thereof being more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,-

Figure l is aside view of the pulling feeding mechanism to which my invention relates;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, showing also a portion of the associated interleaving mechanism Fig. 3 is radial section through one of the skeleton rolls employed.

Like reference characters indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawing.

It may first be explained that the apparatus to which my invention is designed to be applied includes an assembling table lover which is adapted to be pulled or drawn a longitudinally-folded continuous strip 2 of printed manifold forms of the kind used for many commercial and business purposes. This strip may be delivered immediately to Application filed December 5, 1930. Serial No. 500,187.

the table by the folding machine through which the printed unfolded web of paper is longitudinally fanfolded, or it may be drawn from a basketfor other suitable receptacle in which the strip, previously printed and fanfolded has been temporarily deposited until it is desired to interleave the carbons with it.

The single-faced carbon strips 3 to be incoursevaries with the number of folds of the set of forms. Between the folds of the forms the carbons severally pass around wire guide frames 5 having angularly disposed members 6 which change the direction of travel of the carbon sheets in such manner that they are interleaved between the folds of the set of over the table with it by means of my novel pulling mechanism, which will now be described.

This mechanism includes an upper skeleton roll 7 and a lower skeleton roll 8 which may be similar in construction and which are capable of more or less variation in'respect to mechanical details. In the embodi-' ment of my invention illustrated the upper roll? is carried by a shaft 9 and the lower roll 8 by a shaft 10, both shafts being suitably journaled in the machine frame 11, which may suitably consist of connected frame members secured together and braced as needed to provide adequate support to the moving parts. The shafts 9 and 10 are severally provided with gears marked respectively 12 and 13 which intermesh with each otherpand each shaft also carries a roller frame consisting of three spaced disks i l, 15 and 16, which are peripherally notched and a cylindrical series of frame bars 17 arranged parallel with the shaft and seated in the notches of said disks, to which they are secured by screws 18.

The bars 17 serveas means ofsupport for a corresponding number of gripping bars attached forms and are drawn 19 which are severally slidingly mounted upon the bars 17 and have a limited yielding radial movement with respect thereto. To provide for this movement each gripping bar 19 is equipped with a set of inwardly extending guide pins 20 engaging guide sockets or orifices in the associated bar 17, the pins being transversely orificed and provided with cotter pins near their inner ends to limit the extent of outward movement permitted them. Springs 21 are provided to stress the gripping bars outwardly and the outer, engaging face of each gripping bar is providedwith acushioning strip 22 of rubber. The arrangement is such that as the rolls are rotated the gripping bars of the upper roll will successively come into opposition to the gripping bars of the lower roll with a spring-stressed cushioned engagement with the assembled forms and interposed carbons on opposite sides thereof, and pull the elements of the set from the source of supply of each element across the assembling table and deliver them in assembled format the delivery side of the rolls. The skeletonized form of the roller permits readjustment of the tension upon the forms of frequent intervals so that any tendency to creep or skew to one side is avoided.

It will be understood that the connected skeleton rolls may be driven by any suitable means. In the present instance the driving means include a pulley 30 secured to the lower shaft 10 and driven by a belt 31 engaged by a driving pulley 32 fixed to a shaft which is connected to a source of power, as an electric motor, by connections not necessary to be here described, a weighted take-up pulley 33 being employed to maintain suitable tension of the belt.

From the foregoing description the operation of the apparatus will readily be understood without detailed explanation. The portions of the strip of forms and strips of carbon paper on the table and leading up to the pulling rolls are arranged in interleaved relation by hand and the free end of the assembled strip engaged by the rolls. Inthe continued operation of the apparatus the pulling mechanism draws the forms over the assembling table and with them the carbon strips, which pass from the several rolls around the wire guide frames to interleaved position in the set of forms, and the assembled forms are then delivered by the pulling rolls to suitable receptacles for further manipulation, or directly to apparatus for fanfolding the forms transversely into packages, as may be convenient.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for imparting a pulling feeding movement to a continuous strip of assembled forms or the like including a pair of synchronously driven roller frames, a cylindrically-arranged series of outwardly movable gripping bars mounted in each frame, the bars of one frame being arranged to meet the bars of the other frame and means for stressing said bars outwardly.

2. Mechanism for imparting a pulling feeding movement to a continuous strip of assembled forms or the like including a pair of synchronously driven roller frames having members formed with radial guide sockets, a cylindrical series of gripping bars carried by each frame equipped with guide pins extending inwardly in said sockets,'the bars of one frame being arranged to meet the bars of the other frame and springs yieldingly stressing said bars outwardly.

3. Mechanism for imparting a pulling feeding movement to a continuous strip of assembled forms or the like including a pair of synchronously driven roller frames, a cylindrically-arranged series of outwardly movable gripping bars mounted in each frame, the bars of one frame being arranged to meet the bars of the other frame, said bars being faced with a cushioning material, and means for'stressing said bars outwardly.

4. Mechanism for imparting a pulling feeding movement to a continuous strip of assembled forms or the like including a pair of synchronously driven roller frames each including a cylindrieally-arranged set of frame bars formed with guide sockets, gripping bars severally equipped with guide pins extending inwardly in said sockets, the bars of one frame being arranged to meet the bars of the other frame and springs between said frame bars and gripping bars arranged to stress said gripping bars outwardly.

5. Mechanisn for imparting a pulling feeding movement to a continuous strip of assembled forms or the like including a pair of driven feeding rollers, at least one of said rollers including a. series of cylindricallyarranged outwardly movable spring-stressed gripping bars mounted in said roller and arranged to make yielding engagement with the other roller.

6. A pulling feeding mechanism accord ing to claim 5 in which said gripping bars are severally faced with rubber cushioning strips.

7. Mechanism for imparting a pulling feeding movement to a continuous strip of assembled forms or the like including a pair of roller frames, a cylindrically-arranged spaced series of outwardly spring-pressed gripping bars arranged in said frames, and means for driving said roller synchronously with the bars in opposed relation.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

\VILLIAM .J. STEENROD. 

